The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-04-30

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STEAMBOAT LANDING IN FRONT or FORT PHI
Low.-From an Old Photograph.
every way pleasantly located. Here tents
were put up, huts built by some, and about
two weeks OF beautiful November weather
spent most pleasantly
Inc OF guards encircled the camp at
night to break the men in and enforce dis
cipline as much AS any thing, perhaps. On
this duty one OF the men accidental dis
charged his piece and the bullet passed
through his foot. This WAS the first gun
shot wound in the history of the regiment.
Upon leaving the barracks at Camp But
Ter each company broke up into meSSes com
posed of from eight to fifteen men who
drew their rations in common and did
their cooking together
Nearly every day the regiment went
out on dress pdrdde-a term that to the non
military reader needs explanation.
TO partic pate in this, each man, before
falling in ranks, was required to have his
uniform in good order, his accouterments
In neat trim, his gun and metallic append.
ages bright--then the regiment in line
marched to some convenient level, open
space, and went through tho manual Of
arms, and, so to speak, displayed itself to
the very best advantage,
One day the regiment selected for its
place OF parade an open space near public
highway, parallel with and facing which,
it was drawn up. Some military exercises
had just been gone through and the men
were standing easily at parade rest, when
a turnout passed along the road within IA
few feet Of them that was new to North
ern eyes, but afterwards frequently seen
in the South during wartmes.
An old dilapidated family carriage that
looked as though it might have seen scrv.
Ice since the Revolutionary period, drawn
by large, dark-colored, raw-boned horse,
only a skeleton in fact, and little, old,
mousc-co.ored donkey; upon these were
shreds of old harness attached to which
were some shabby oil relics of silver
mounting. Mounted on the box with rope
lines in his hands was an old gray. haired
darby, who sat upright and di2nited, an
old and very high plug hat on his head and
his person attired in the antiquated re-
mains OF a cOachman's livery. Within the
carriage was a man AMI woman.
The whole outfit was so ridiculous to
Northern eyes that hearty laugh went
along the line followed by shout that was
participated in by "a thousand voices.
At this period but few negroes lived in
rural sections of the North, and most OF
these had comparatively regular features,
but IL was soon observed that very many
OF their brethren Of the South had reccd-
ing foreheads, immense mouths, exceed.
iDgly thick lips and fat, shapeless noses
After remaining about two weeks in
camp, orders came one day to occupy Fort
Pickering, just below the city.
Like nearly all localities for any time
occupied by troops, unless extraordinary
precautions are taken, this post was filthy
and repulsive in the extreme.
Meantime snow fell, cold weather came
on, and some most unpleasant days were
passed, and to make matters worse, tho
health of many began to fail.
The writer, with his mess numbering
about eight persons, occupied S,bley
tent not far from the river bank.
Sibiey tent is round at the base, hav-
ing in its middle a center pole towards
which the canvas slopes from every di-
rection, forming perfect cone.
The location Of this tent on the high bluff
next the river gave the wind full sweep,
and the swaying OF the canvas and Tapping
OF tho ropes was any thing but pleasant, es-
pecially at night.
FOrt PICKERING was al TINS period sur
rounded by earthworks with cannon all
along at proper intervals. At the date of
occupancy the works were constantly being
strengthened by the use Of the spade and
shovel Most OF this work was done by ne
grocs, who were fed and paid by the Gov.
/ ernment
After timo came an order for the rcgi
ment To do patrol duty in the city. THIS
neccssitated the breaking up of the rcgi-
ment into squads, who for the time found
quarters and did duty in various parts
of the city
Tho company to which the writer be-
, longed found quarters in large brick
book II Il far from the river. In this build.
lag were holes made by cannon shot,
thrown during the naval engagement the
9th of June previous.
Various were the duties performed; al
one time it was guarding steamboat at
the wharf; at another, goods ut the levee
/ again, it was standing in the rain some
dark night at some cherries corner, for